To consider not taking my lame pet to the vets?

[THERhubarb]

Before you all tear me apart let me explain....

This is a 2 week old chick. We have 3 of them and this is the youngest. I paid around £3 each for them and they are being cared for by one of my hens.

Yesterday I noticed this little fella was limping but was still getting around. I checked its foot, couldn't find anything stuck in it so let it go back assuming it would get better by itself.

Today it cannot put any weight on the foot. I have taken it indoors and examined it and it's not any of the usual foot diseases I've so far googled. I can't feel any broken bones so could just be a sprain, but obviously I don't know for sure.

The chick is a Pekin bantam so its tiny still and difficult to treat I would imagine. I've not put it back with it's mum or the others but have brought it in as it was not coming out of the hutch for food or water, at least this way I can make sure its eating.

I've just phoned the vets and they charge £10 consultation fee plus whatever else for treatment/medication.

Now when all is said and done, it is just a chick and doesn't appear to be in constant pain, it just can't walk around as it refuses to put the bad leg down. I am tempted to just pop it back under mother hen tonight, then take it out again tomorrow and do what I'm doing today, which is to keep it in an egg box with food and water and hope that the leg gets better with plenty of rest so it can eventually join the other two and mother hen.

Would this be totally unreasonable?

[vaticancameo]

Why is the fact that you paid £3 for it relevant ? Does it make the chick more dispensable? "It's just a chick ". Lovely.

If it's in pain and you can't treat it yourself, it needs a vet. Not putting the leg down indicates pain, to me.

[THERhubarb]

I doubt very much it can be splinted - it's fecking tiny! I did tell vet what the problem was but they replied as many vets do, that they would need to examine it before they made any guesses as to treatment, etc.

If it does need a splint, that would cost a fortune and I have to remember that it's a £3 chick not a pet dog. I conciously don't have 'pets' as such because of this issue and always said that if one of the hens got ill, I wouldn't let it suffer but neither would I spend a lot of money on vet treatment.

Is that so bad?

[Sirzy]

Its an animal who is suffering, doesn't matter whether it cost you £3 or £300

You do have animals, you have to care for them and if you are not willing to do that then perhaps you shouldn't have them

[DameDeepRedBetty]

Vets never seem to be able to do much for chickens.

[THERhubarb]

vatican, sorry but it IS just a chick. My husband was a farmer before I met him, animals are part of their livelihood. They would never be cruel but neither would they waste money treating an animal that was not a pet.

This is not a cat or a dog, it's a functioning animal that we hope to make a profit from by selling it. Therefore we don't want to spend more money on it than we would eventually get for it.

That's kinda the farming mentality I'm afraid. At the same time, I obviously want to give this one a fighting chance if I can.

[Binkyridesagain]

If you can't be arsed spending the money then you shouldn't have got the animal

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

It is wrong to leave that chick in pain. Many animals dont show pain because that alerts predators to the fact they are easy prey.so appearances can be deceptive. Chances are there isn't alot that can be done but at very least the poor thing can be put to sleep.

[DameDeepRedBetty]

If it's in a lot of pain I can come round and deal with it for you, I know you're not far from me. Not the most fun job but my mother taught me to do it if necessary.

[THERhubarb]

I think some people are confusing animals for pets.

The chick and hens are not pets. They serve a purpose.

Dame - yes I must admit I think I might spend £10 just for the vet to tell me that there is nothing she can do.

[expatinscotland]

Just put it back under the hen.

[Hercy]

Why did you call it a pet in the thread title then?

[THERhubarb]

Dame - thanks. It's ok, I know how to do it myself. The chick is not in constant pain and is feeding itself well, it just won't walk about so I have to put the food nearby.

I don't suppose it can survive with just one leg can it? If it's broken then I may have to put it down myself. Shame.

[SacreBlue]

I'm from the country, so used to seeing animals as 'useful' rather than as 'pets' but frankly I think if you are in any doubt that this creature is in pain I would take to the vet.

It may be some prefer it to be treated regardless of cost, but even if you do not want to pay out lots in vet fees you are responsible for this creature.

Have it treated/put down/rehomed - all viable and more responsible options than ignoring it.

[expatinscotland]

And then I take up Dame's offer if it doesn't improve.

[DameDeepRedBetty]

xposted, MrRhubarb will be able to do it just as well as I can.

I think this thread isn't going to end well...

[THERhubarb]

Hercy - because I knew I'd get responses and I needed other opinions. So shoot me.

Expat - I would but then it won't come out to eat or drink, just sits in the corner of the hutch. The other two are out and about in then pen pecking away and feeding as they should.

[SacreBlue]

X post so guessing you know what to do

[sparkle12mar08]

I happen to agree with you OP, but you are going to get slaughtered once the 'my pets are more important than mt children' brigade spot this...

Get your flame proof trousers on, you'll be bbq'd

[Binkyridesagain]

If its sitting in a corner refusing to move then its in some pain, you can either take it to the vets and maybe they can get it sorted easily or you put it out of its misery.

[THERhubarb]

SacreBlue - I have brought it in, it is under a heat lamp, I am feeding it and I am asking for opinions. How is that ignoring it?

I am loathe to give the vet practice more than a tenner of my money if there is nothing they can do. I might as well just go out to the bin and throw a tenner in it now.

There's caring for an animal and there's being overly sentimental and wasting money.

[StephenFrySaidSo]

animal or pet- it is in pain. if you were on a farm and chose to leave a limping cow in the barn instead of calling the vet that would also be unreasonable is it is still an animal, still in pain and still your responsibility.

YABU

£3 or £3000, pet or 'just an animal', as the person who has chosen to 'own' that animal you have taken on it's healthcare needs as your responsibility and so you must treat it when necessary. he doesn't know he was only £3 or that he isn't a pet- all he knows is that he cant fucking walk for the pain in his leg!

[expatinscotland]

Put it out of its misery if it doesn't perk up. Chances are, the vet will charge more than a tenner, too. People on here can't believe there are some people who don't have that money right now.

[THERhubarb]

Binky, it's in pain when it squeaks. At the moment it's happily snoozing and waking every 20 minutes to feed before snoozing again. When it stands it cheeps for its mum, it doesn't squeak in pain but it won't put any weight on that one foot.

Bring on the pet brigade, I don't care so long as I've had some useful advice which I'm getting. I can ignore the rest. It's just the internet. Some chicken forums have RIP sections for chickens, others calmly screw a hen's neck once she's past her egg laying best. That's the way it goes. I assume the sentimenalists are veggies? My hens get a way better life than any farmed hens, free range or otherwise.

[MonstersDontCry]

So just because this chick isn't a pet it should be allowed to suffer?

Wtaf? You cruel bastard.